Bo Nix breaks his right ankle late in Broncos' playoff win, will have surgery

DENVER (AP) — Bo Nix broke his right ankle late in overtime of the Denver Broncos' divisional-round victory over Buffalo on Saturday and will have surgery that will sideline him for the rest of the playoffs.

Coach Sean Payton delivered the stunning news about his second-year quarterback in the aftermath of Denver's biggest win in a decade. Backup Jarrett Stidham, who's 1-3 as a starter in six seasons, will start the AFC championship game next weekend.

“Stiddy’s ready,” Payton said after returning to the postgame lectern to discuss the injury following Denver's 33-30 victory over Josh Allen and the Bills.

Payton said Nix got hurt on a keeper where he lost 2 yards and was tackled by safety Cole Bishop. Nix was limping after the play, but there was no indication that he suffered such a serious injury.

On the next play, Nix threw a deep pass to Marvin Mims Jr. that drew a 30-yard pass-interference flag and got the Broncos well into field-goal range. Nix then took a knee to center the ball for Wil Lutz's game-ending 23-yard field goal.

Payton said Nix will have surgery Tuesday in Birmingham, Alabama.

“He's such a strong, faith-based guy,” Payton said. “He's sitting in the hallway with his family and coming over and we're all talking to him. He knows that God's got a plan for him and he said he had (a broken ankle) in high school and then he said he had one at Auburn.

“And I said I didn't realize that. I said if I had known that I wouldn't have drafted you,” Payton cracked.

Nix said nothing about being hurt during a postgame interview with CBS, and he sounded like he was looking forward to the next game.

“It’s great to have home-field advantage in a situation like this. It’s exciting. This is why you play the game, this is why you compete. You get to playoff football, and good things happen,” Nix said.

The locker room had cleared out and reporters were waiting in an interview room for Nix when Payton returned and delivered the news.

Nix, the 12th overall pick out of Oregon in the 2024 NFL draft, tied Russell Wilson's NFL record with two dozen victories in his first two seasons. Saturday's victory was his first in the playoffs. The Broncos lost last year at Buffalo but Nix led Denver to the AFC's top seed this season.

“He's a tough cookie,” Payton said. “And this team all year has lost key players and will rise up for the next challenge.”

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Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix leaves the field after an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix celebrates after a touchdown during the second half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) greets Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) after an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix celebrates after an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

The Denver Broncos are heading to the AFC championship game for the first time since winning their last Super Bowl 10 years ago, but they won't have Bo Nix under center after the second-year quarterback broke his right ankle.

Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills fell short again, with questionable officiating playing a role.

Wil Lutz kicked a 23-yard field goal in overtime to lift the Broncos to a 33-30 victory on Saturday, sending Denver to the conference title game for the 12th time in franchise history. The Broncos are 8-3 in those games.

The No. 1 seed Broncos (15-3) will host the Texans-Patriots winner on Jan. 25 at 3 p.m. EST. They won't have Nix, who was injured on Denver's final series. Coach Sean Payton said Nix will have season-ending surgery on Tuesday. Jarrett Stidham, who is 1-3 in seven seasons, will start the AFC title game.

No. 2 seed New England (15-3) hosts No. 5 seed Houston (13-5) on Sunday, with the winner likely to be favored on the road against the Broncos.

Denver’s last victory in the AFC championship came in Peyton Manning’s final season. The Broncos defeated Tom Brady and the New England Patriots 20-18 on Jan. 25, 2016. A stifling defense shut down Cam Newton and led Denver to a 24-10 win in the Super Bowl.

Allen and the Bills (13-6) again were denied an opportunity to win the franchise’s first Lombardi Trophy. Buffalo has been knocked out in the divisional or championship rounds in six straight seasons under Allen and coach Sean McDermott.

Allen and Nix traded go-ahead touchdown passes in the fourth quarter and Buffalo’s Matt Prater kicked a 50-yarder to send it to overtime.

After the Broncos punted on the opening drive, Allen threw a deep pass to Brandin Cooks that would have put the Bills in field-goal range, but Ja’Quan McMillian snatched it away for an interception as both players tumbled to the ground.

Officials reviewed the play and upheld the call, a decision that McDermott criticized after the game. The Broncos took over at their own 20.

Two pass-interference penalties on Buffalo gave the Broncos 47 yards and set up Lutz’s winning kick. Tre’davious White, who was called for the second one that moved the ball to Buffalo's 8, threw his helmet down in disgust while arguing and got an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty.

In the NFC, the No. 6 seed San Francisco 49ers (13-5) were taking on the top-seeded Seattle Seahawks (14-3) in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader. The No. 2 seed Chicago Bears (12-6) will host the No. 5 seed Los Angeles Rams (13-5) in the second game Sunday.

Since the NFL expanded the playoff field to 14 teams in 2020, only one team in each conference gets a bye. Those No. 1 seeds are 8-3 in the divisional round, including Denver’s win. The 2022 Chiefs are the only No. 1 seed to win the Super Bowl in that span.

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Denver Broncos offensive tackle Frank Crum (73) celebrates with teammates after a touchdown during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos wide receiver Lil'jordan Humphrey (17) celebrates after a touchdown during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/RJ Sangosti)

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) celebrates during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/RJ Sangosti)

Denver Broncos offensive tackle Frank Crum (73) celebrates with teammates after a touchdown during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)